On October 31, 2023, Tunisia was shaken by the escape of five individuals from Mornaguia prison, men involved in attacks and sentenced to heavy sentences. Tunisian authorities described the men as “very dangerous terrorists” and expressed concern over the event.
It was revealed that the men escaped by digging a tunnel under the prison, a feat that would have taken several months to achieve. Tools and construction materials were obtained through complicity within the establishment. The escape occurred at dawn, as the guards were making their rounds, allowing the men to go unnoticed and escape by car.
Faced with this situation, the government announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening prison security, including increased surveillance of prisoners. This event raises many questions, including how the men managed to dig a tunnel undetected and where the help that enabled them to obtain the necessary tools came from.
In response to this escape, the Tunisian authorities took sanctions. Several officials were dismissed, including the director general of special services, the central director of general intelligence and the director of Mornaguia prison. Among the escapees is Ahmed Melki, called “the Somali”, a terrorist figure involved in the assassinations of opposition politicians in 2013.
